GERMAN DRIVE

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1941, Page 5

GERMAN DRIVE

THROUGH BULGARIA Anticipated by British [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, February 11. Events in Bulgaria are moving swiftly. Most sources record the daily entry of hundreds—some say thousands—of German troops. Although Germany . has denied their movement and the Bulgarian Government has declared that it has no knowledge thereof, the British United Press correspondent says that thousands of German soldiers, dressed as civilians, have already arrived, and thousands mote are arriving daily. According to the "Daily Telegraph,” several hundreds have arrived at Sofia in mufti, with passports mostly dated February 6. Their occupation is given as carpenters. The hotels are overcrowded therewith. All German firms have received orders to evacuate half their premises, to provide room for future “tourists.” German school buildings have been placed at the disposal of the “tourists.”

The Ankara correspondent of “The Times” says that a story comes from Garna that a trainload of German soldiers in civilian clothes crosses the Dobruja frontier daily.

GERMANS IN ROUMANIA. 20 DIVISIONS REPORTED. LONDON, February 11. “The Times’s” Ankara correspondent says: The German Army in Roumania is reliably estimated at twenty divisions. There are perhaps two armoured divisions in the Dobruja and bridging material for the whole length of the Danube. The stage is set for the occupation of Bulgaria, but peaceful infiltration is considered the likeliest method, with Bulgarians consoling themselves at the thought of an outlet to the Aegean at the expense of Greece.

A.R.P. ACTIVITY IN RUMANIAN CAPITAL (Received February 11, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 11. The Rumanian newspapers carry columns of instructions for air-raid precautions. The blackout is most rigid. Buckets of sand and water are being distributed.

SUGGESTED GERMAN PLAN. PRESSURE ON GREEKS AND TURKS. LONDON, February 11. “The Times’s” correspondent acids that it is believed in some quarters that the Germans will occupy part of Bulgaria, including the capital, as far as the Greek frontier, then call or Greece to make concessions to Italy and cease hostilities, in the hope that Greece will give way, thus putting Germany in a position to bring similar pressure to Turkey.

Turkey’s Attitude NOT SO CERTAIN. SELF DEFENCE HER LINE. LONDON, February 10. The conclusion of London authorities, that Turkey will give immediate help to Bulgaria, in the event of a German attack, is premature, state reports from Ankara. The German concentrations in Roumania are increasing considerably, and a Bulgarian breakdown is possible. Nevertheless, Turkish help is now thought to be improbable. The Turks recall that the Bulgarians rejected gener-ously-offered help in the past, thus placing Turkey at a strategical disadvantage. To-day, Turkish policy is essentially national, and' this alone \vill determine her when to act, also what form such action should take.

Turkey and Axis TENSION RELAXED.

JUGOSLAV REPORT. LONDON, February 10. The Rome radio announced that the Axophile editor of the "Yugoslav Vreme” says: Tension between Turkey and the Axis has diminished. Turkey has refused the British demand for naval bases, and permission to send troops across Turkey. Turkey will defend herself if threatened, but such threat no longer exists from the Balkans.

Yugoslav Tension

PRESS BECOMES “MUM” (Received February 11, 9.30 p.m.) LOND/JN, February 11. The Belgrade correspondent of the ‘•“Daily Express” says: “The Yugoslav Press usually prints a long daily commentary on the Bulgarian situation. This now has suddenly stopped, and the atmsophere has changed overnight from one of mild optimism to one of tension.”

Soviet’s Attitude LONDON PRESS REPORTS. LONDON, February 11. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Belgrade 1 correspondent says it is wisest to suspend judgment as to M. Stalin’s intentions. “The Times’s” diplomatic correspondent says it is by no means certain that M. Soboleff, two months ago, made any definite proposals for a defensive pact. The Russian attitude arouses suspicion that the Soviet is looking for an excuse’ not to help the Bulgars to resist the German pressure.